Remembering the webcomic SHALL WE HAVE DINNER TONIGHT?

I previously wrote about the now-defunct Korean webcomic platform Spottoon, which shut down in 2020 due to shifts in the webcomic industry. Many of the series it licensed were left in limbo, with no other platforms picking them up after its closure. One such title is Shall We Have Dinner Tonight? by Park Seein.

Shall We Have Dinner Tonight? was originally published in 2013 in Korean on Kakao before being licensed for an English-language release by Spottoon. Its original run spanned from 2013 to 2014, with a later serialization taking place from May to October 2020. The story follows Do-hee Woo and Hae-gyung Kim, two young singles with a history of failed relationships. By chance, they meet while attempting to dine alone at a restaurant, where a waitress mistakenly assumes they are a couple. Seizing the opportunity to claim a couple’s discount, they go along with the misunderstanding and end up sharing an unexpectedly delightful meal. Their casual dinners become a weekly tradition, deepening their bond as they help each other heal from past heartbreaks. As their connection grows stronger, they are faced with the question: are they just friends, or is there something more between them?

The webcomic received a 32-episode live-action adaptation titled Dinner Mate, which premiered in May 2020. The series aired in Korea and was released globally on iQIYI with multi-language subtitles. Starring Song Seung-heon, Seo Ji-hye, Lee Ji-hoon, and Son Na-eun, the drama closely follows the webcomic’s premise. Seo Ji-hye plays Do-hee Woo, a producer at a digital content company, while Song Seung-heon takes on the role of Hae-gyung Kim, a psychiatrist. Just like in the webcomic, the two meet by chance, share a meal, and decide to continue their weekly dinners without exchanging personal details, including their names and occupations.

(Fun fact: 2NE1’s Sandara Park makes a cameo as Seung-heon’s patient in Episode 11!)

The series averaged a 4.0% Nielsen rating and earned multiple award nominations, including Drama of the Year and Best Couple Award at the 2020 MBC Drama Awards, as well as Outstanding Korean Drama at the 2021 Seoul International Drama Awards.

I absolutely loved Shall We Have Dinner Tonight?—I devoured it in one sitting. While I have a soft spot for slice-of-life comics with a focus on food, this one stood out with its sweet and wholesome storytelling. I’d love the chance to revisit it and see a new generation of webcomic readers fall in love with Do-hee and Hae-gyung. Fingers crossed that a platform like Tappytoon or Manta picks it up again soon!